Q1 2023?

[samspackman]

This was from the announcement. If this is going to slip it would be nice to have an update.

[nanni]

I second the motion.

[JagdFlanker]

there was a recent update on the official NWS forum
https://nws-online.proboards.com/post/97342/thread

We don't expect any really significant delays...is it possible we may slip into Q2 of this year? Yes...but don't expect anything later than that, especially not 2024'ish.

We have now included every significant feature we want to ship with the game release, so we are now in the polishing and final bug squashing phase...

Thanks.

[Erik Rutins]

We expect this to be a Q2 release.

[Alan McDonald]

Sir, since there has not been a single update on the Matrix site for Rule the Waves 3 since it was announced on Aug 24 2022, could we please get a more detailed update?

Thank you.

[Erik Rutins]

Sure. When we brought RTW3 on board, we did an initial review and coordinated with William and Fredrik at NWS to determine a realistic release schedule. That originally had us looking at late Q1 2023.

We also launched a much expanded beta test, which has proceeded in multiple waves since September. We have been working with the feedback from those testers as well as our internal priorities, which were focused on making sure the missile age was as well developed as possible, that the other new features were all working as intended and providing enough player feedback to understand them and that the documentation was updated and covered both the strategic and tactical parts of the game fully in its current state.

We are now targeting Q2 as a realistic release timeframe. I can't get more specific than that, but I don't expect it to slip further.

Regards,

- Erik

[Fredrich]

Hi, just wondering if the releasing date may be pushed to Q2 2023, will the beta testing still be opened for application?Thanks a lot!

[nanni]

Tempus fugit.

[Erik Rutins]

Hi, just wondering if the releasing date may be pushed to Q2 2023, will the beta testing still be opened for application?Thanks a lot!

At this point, it's unlikely we'll have another tester wave, but it's possible.

[Kriegsspieler]

I was just checking in here for the first time in several months. I had feared that William had somehow succumbed to the dreaded disease of "feature-itis," but it's good to hear that the long rollout is due to his customary care in getting things ready for release.

My only concern now is that the lack of news will hurt sales. Well, I at least will be ready to sign up when it's possible to do so!

[GolasYH]

We are now targeting Q2 as a realistic release timeframe. I can't get more specific than that, but I don't expect it to slip further.

Regards,

- Erik

Will the UI be upgraded? The current UI looks like from Windows XP system, hard to imagine it's a 2023-released game

[Erik Rutins]

Will the UI be upgraded? The current UI looks like from Windows XP system, hard to imagine it's a 2023-released game

There have been some UI improvements, but nothing like a re-work or re-design. RTW3 remains on its original engine and we'd need a major engine upgrade to do much about the UI. The UI is quite functional, but not pretty and certainly does look like an older Windows application.

This is a single developer game and while it has a functional UI that will do what you want it to do (it's not a painful game to play), the labor of love is the gameplay and naval history that has been put into the game. There's nothing else quite like RTW3 that lets you play from 1890 - 1970 and shepherd your navy through all kinds of crises, multiple wars and many eras of ship design.

If all goes well, it's possible that a future RTW4 could see an upgraded engine and graphics, but we need to take this one step at a time. Our focus here has been to make sure the various gameplay improvements and the new missile age and pre-dreadnought age were working well and represented interesting and worthwhile additions to the gameplay. With RTW3, we hope to introduce this unique and addictive RTW gameplay to a wider audience of wargamers, both here in the Matrix community and on Steam and thus create a brighter future for future RTW releases.

Regards,

- Erik

[goodwoodrw]

I guess the sum of the matter is then, is there enough change for those who own RTW2 to purchase RTW3?

[WilliamMiller]

I guess the sum of the matter is then, is there enough change for those who own RTW2 to purchase RTW3?

There be details coming soon addressing this exact subject -thanks!

[Kriegsspieler]

Will the UI be upgraded? The current UI looks like from Windows XP system, hard to imagine it's a 2023-released game

There have been some UI improvements, but nothing like a re-work or re-design. RTW3 remains on its original engine and we'd need a major engine upgrade to do much about the UI. The UI is quite functional, but not pretty and certainly does look like an older Windows application.

This is a single developer game and while it has a functional UI that will do what you want it to do (it's not a painful game to play), the labor of love is the gameplay and naval history that has been put into the game. There's nothing else quite like RTW3 that lets you play from 1890 - 1970 and shepherd your navy through all kinds of crises, multiple wars and many eras of ship design.

If all goes well, it's possible that a future RTW4 could see an upgraded engine and graphics, but we need to take this one step at a time. Our focus here has been to make sure the various gameplay improvements and the new missile age and pre-dreadnought age were working well and represented interesting and worthwhile additions to the gameplay. With RTW3, we hope to introduce this unique and addictive RTW gameplay to a wider audience of wargamers, both here in the Matrix community and on Steam and thus create a brighter future for future RTW releases.

Regards,

- Erik

Just to amplify a bit on Erik's comments, this from someone who has long admired RTW and William's work.

RTW2 is a great game, period, and the enhancements that were promised even before the deal with Matrix was announced should be more than enough to attract anyone who wants to engage with a serious study of both the strategic and tactical sides of naval warfare in the 20th century.

You want a slick-looking naval game with up-to-date graphics? Go play Ultimate Admiral or any of the other dozen naval-oriented games out there. You want one that challenges you and makes you think? Give this one a go. You won't be sorry.

[BKL]

I was wondering if there is any update on a release date. I'm looking forward to the game. Haven't started a new play through of WTW 2 as I'm hoping this new version will be released sometime this quarter.